Knock-down enclosure for open vehicle bodies



Dec. 2; 1958 T. E. DAVIS KNOCK-DOWN ENCLOSURE FOR OPEN VEHICLE BODIES Filed-Aug. 16, 1956 THEODORE E. DAVIS INVEN TOR.

ATTO RN EY United States Patent() KNOCK-DOWN ENCLOSURE FOR OPEN VEHICLE BODIES Theodore E. Davis, Wellington, Kans., assignor to Clarkson & Clark, Inc., Wellington,'Kans., a corporation of Kansas 1 Application August 16, 1956, Serial No. 604,407

Claims. Cl. 296-28) This invention relates generally to vehicle body constructions and pertains more particularly to a body structure of the knock-down or sectional type.

While sectional body constructions are. not entirely new, those constructions that are found in current use leave something to be desired in the way of greater simplicity. Simplicity in and of itself can be rather readily achieved, but at the sacrifice of rigidity. Therefore, to obtain both of these ends in a single design presents a problem not susceptible of easy solution. Nonetheless, an object of the instant invention is to provide a lightweight vehicle bodyconstruction possessing both simplicity and ruggedness, thereby promoting its acceptance on a wider scale than if only one of these characteristics is involved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a body construction of the knock-down variety that is exceptionally attractive in appearance, it being diflicult to per eeive from a casual inspection thereof that it is composed of dismantleable sections.

A further object is to provide a body construction that occupies a minimum of space and constitutes a minimum of parts in its knocked-down condition.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a body of the foregoing class that can be quickly and easily erected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sectional body construction that may be removed from the vehicle as a unit whenever hoist equipment is available for so doing and it is found desirable to use the vehicle without the van-like body.-

A still further object of the invention is to provide a body structure that can be readily fabricated at a relatively low cost.

The invention, together with other objects attending its production, will be more clearly understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the van-like body installed on the chassis of a truck which has been depicted fragmentarily in phantom outline;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the body, the separated sections permitting an easier comprehension of the way in which said sections are held together;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 55 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 6-6 of Figure 2'.

Referring now in detail to the drawing the vehicle body construction forming the subject matter of the present invention is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10, being illustratively attached to the rear quarter panels of a truck 12 pictured in dotted outline. It will be recogniZed that the body or van may be secured to any surface substantially planar at least in outline, and is especially well suited to being bolted to trucks equipped with platforms or flat flooring.

The body 10 is comprised of five individual sections which include side wall sections 14, 16, a front wall section 18, a rear wall section in the form of a door 20 and a roof section 22. Describing first the side wall sections, it will be seen that they each include a panel designated as a whole by the numeral 24 in the form of a sheet 'of metal or the like having a cut-out portion for the accommodation of a double window 28. One end of the panel 24 is bent at right angles to form a flange 30 with spaced apertures 31 therein, whereas the opposite end is bent into a channel having a web portion 32 and a flange 34 extending substantially parallel to the major portion of the panel 24. Secured to the upper edge of each panel 24, as by a plurality of rivets (one such rivet 36 being visible in Figure 3), is an elongated angle member 38 provided with a series of apertures 40 for use in attaching the roof section 22, as will be explainedrin greater detail hereinafter. Each panel 24 also has riveted thereto at its lower edge (see the rivet 42 in Figure 3) another angle member 44 provided with apertures 45 for mounting to the truck 12. From Figure 5 it can be discerned that the channel end of each of the panels 24 is reinforced by a horizontal gusset plate 46 provided with vertical flanges 48, 50, there being employed a pair of rivets 52 passing throughthe angle member 44 and one portion of the panel 24, and a second pair of rivets 54 extending through the web portion 32 of each section 14, 16, Through the agency of flanged ribs 56, retained in place by rivets 58 (Figure 6), the remainder of each panel 24 is strategically strengthened, thus providing sections 14, 16 that are quite rigid, although of relatively lightweight construction.

The forward section 18 includes a panel 60 apertured for the reception of a window 62. Like the sections 14, 16 the section 18 has aflixed to its upper marginal edge an angle member 64 and to its lower edge an angle member 66. The upper member 64 contains several apertures 68 and the lower member 66 similar apertures 70. Additional angle members 72, 74 extend vertically along each side, being provided with apertures 76 registrable with the apertures 31 in the flanges 30 of the side sections 14, 16.

Directing attention now to the roof section 22, it will be seen that this section is of convex configuration, rendered so by a pair of end plates 78 (only one of which is visible) having a somewhat rounded or semi-circular periphery. The covering of this roof section 22 is of composite construction including curved panels 80, 82 and 84 easily rolled so as to conform to the rounded plates 78. Considerable rigidity is imparted to the roof sections by reason of a pair of longitudinally extending flanged ribs 86, 88, each fixedly secured to adjacent panels by means of a series of rivets, such as those denoted by the numeral in Figure 4. Beneath the respective outer longitudinal edges of each of the panels 80, 82 is anchored an elongated angle member 92 (Figure 3) as by rivets 94. These angle members 92 each are apertured at spaced intervals. Such apertures register with the previously mentioned apertures 40 to receive bolts 96 and nuts 98 which serve to removably anchor the entire roof section to the side sections 14, 16. Additional bolts 100 and nuts 102 anchor the forward end of the roof section 22 to the front section 18, there being angle members (not visible) corresponding to the angle members 92 rigidly secured along the lower edges of both the forward and rear rounded end panels 78. A further region of securement is provided at the rear end of the roof section through the medium of downwardly projecting anchoring arms 104, these arms 104 being suitably aflixed to the roof section, as by welding to the rear plate 78. The

arms 104 are spaced apart a definite distance so that apertures 106 therein will lie adjacent to and register with apertures 108 located in the turned flanges 34. Here again, bolts llll-and nuts 112 serve as thetfastening means. YThe assembled curved roof panels 80, 82,8 4 are transversely reinforced at spaced intervals intermediate their ends by-flanged ribs 56. (Figure "6) wliich are bent so thattheir respective opposed flangesi seat along the under surfacesrof'the curved roof panels. These curved ribs"56 are secured to theroof panels by rivets.

'Thedoor 20' is the last section to be installed during an erection procedure. "This door is ofthe'flap variety, having one leaf 114 of a hinge unit 116 permanently fastened to its upper edge as by rivets or wcldingand leaving another leaf 118 provided with aperturesizl for the detachable securement to the rear rounded panel 78 of the roof section'22. "In this regard, it will be noted that several apertures 122 have been'drilled and tapped in the panel 78, the apertures 120 and these last mentioned apertures being in' alignment when the door 29 is mounted in place. In this way, the" door 20 can be hung through the simple expedient of inserting screws 124 through the apertures '120 intothreaded engagement with the tapped apertures 122. As With the side wall sections 14, 16 and the front section 18 the door is equipped with a window 126.

From'the foregoing it is believed evident that the several wall sections 14, 16 and 18 can be retained in place by reason oftheir mounting apertures 45 and 70. In this connection it willbe appreciated'that bolts or screws may be passed through these apertures into the underlying truck portion. Where'the underlying truck portion is a flat plat-formthere is of course no trouble as far as alignment with'the vehicle is concerned. On the other hand, where rear quarter panels are available, and the body tobe superimposed thereon, suitable adapter brackets are suggested/In any event, with the various sections 14, 1,6, 1 8, 20 and'22firmly bolted together as outlined hereinbefore it will be recognized that a very rigid and sturdy structure is produced, presenting little likelihood of rattling, or collapsing even when subjected to laterally shifting loads being transported therein.

Having described-the invention with sufficient clarity to enable those familiar. with this art to construct and use it, I claim:

1. A vehicle. body. construction comprising: side wall sections; a front wall section; a roof section including spaced front and rear end plates, a central panel having its ends secured to said plates, a pair of panels spaced slightly to either side of said central panel and having their ends also secured to said end plates, and a flanged rib member disposed intermediate adjacent panels having its flanges underlying the marginal edges of said panels and secured thereto; respective fastening means vfor removably attaching said'sections together; and a door section mounted to the rear end plate.

2, A vehicle body construction in accordance with claim 1 including means for removably attaching the lower edges of said front and side wall sections to a vehicle.

3. A vehicle body construction comprising: sidewall sections; a front wall section; a roof section including front and rear end plates disposed in parallel vertical planes and having curved upper edges, a central panel having its ends secured to said plates, apanel flanking each side of said central panel but spaced therefrom and each flanking panel having its ends also secured to said plates, and a flanged rib member disposed between adjacent panels and projecting upwardly'through the spacing intermediate said panels, -the rib members having their flanges underlying'the'marginal edges of said panels and secured thereto; and respective fastening means for removably attaching said sections together.

4. A vehicle body construction in accordance with claim 3 including a door section .hingedly supported by said rear end plate.

5. A vehicle body in accordance with claim 3 including a pair of downwardly extending arms, said side wall sections includingchannel-shaped rear ends, and additional fastening means extending throughsaid arms and said channel-shaped ends.

References Cited inthe'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 12, 1950 

